Undergraduate – Admission/Audition Requirements

Texas Tech University follows a holistic admissions policy.  That is, there are no specific requirements for GPA or test scores.

Students who graduate from an accredited high school or equivalent (including Department of Defense schools) with the required course work will be assured admission if they present the combination of class rank and minimum test scores indicated below:

Assured admission will be granted to all students who hold scholarships awarded by an official Texas Tech University scholarship committee.

In addition, students seeking degrees in music must also apply and audition for the School of Music.  The audition requirements for each area of study are listed below. In addition, every student is asked to send a letter of reference with the application. There is not a specific reference form at this time. Please mail to the following address:

Coordinator of Admissions and Scholarships
TTU School of Music
P.O. Box 42033
Lubbock, TX 79409-2033

Applications for auditions must be received two weeks before the date of the audition.

Cello Applicants
Undergraduate Performance Major
Applicants for the Texas Tech University cello studio wishing to major in Cello Performance should prepare the following audition material.

*One etude of the student’s choosing from Popper Opus 73 "High School of Cello Playing", two contrasting movements of a Bach Suite and the first movement of a standard cello concerto. Memorization is not required but is preferable.

Undergraduate Music Education Major – Emphasis in Cello
Applicants for the Music Education Major with an emphasis in Cello should prepare the following audition material.

*Two contrasting pieces of the applicants choosing from the standard cello repertoire and one three-octave scale of the applicants choosing. Material need not be memorized.

Composition Applicants
In addition to auditioning on your principal instrument according to the requirements listed above, you will need to submit supporting materials in the form of musical scores.

Double Bass Applicants
Undergraduate Performance Major

• Two contrasting movements from a standard double bass concerto (e.g. Bottesini, Dittersdorf, Koussevitsky, etc.) or sonata of equivalent difficulty. Contrasting movements need not be from the same work.
• Two orchestral excerpts from the standard orchestral literature (e.g. Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Strauss, etc.)
• 2 or 3 octave major & melodic minor scale and major & minor arpeggio of the applicants choice.
• Memorization is not required but is preferred.

• Two contrasting works or movements of the applicant's choice from the standard double bass repertoire.
• 2 or 3 octave major & melodic minor scale of the applicants choice.
• Memorization is not required.

Guitar Applicants
Prepare two contrasting solo pieces and play a 2 octave scale.

Harp Applicants
Prepare two contrasting solo pieces and play a 2-octave scale, hands together.

Keyboard Applicants
Performance majors (or Browning-Biggs Scholarship applicants) must present a minimum of three memorized compositions in contrasting styles. A concerto movement may be substituted for one of the repertoire selections.

All other keyboard applicants (Music Education, Music Theory, Composition, Bachelor of Arts in Music) should perform a minimum of two contrasting repertoire pieces, one of which must be memorized.

In addition to the repertoire, demonstration of technical proficiency through playing of scales, arpeggios, and etudes is encouraged.  Applicants may also be asked to sight read.

Percussion Applicants
Prepare at least two pieces or etudes demonstrating two different percussion areas (i.e. snare and mallets, snare and timpani, mallets and timpani, drumset and mallets, drumset and timpani).  Accompaniment is not necessary but you may provide your own if you like.

Theory Applicants
In addition to auditioning on your principal instrument according to the requirements listed above, you will need to submit supporting materials in the form of a paper written on a musical topic and you will need to take a theory placement exam at the time of your audition.

Tuba and Euphonium Applicants

• Two contrasting musical selections comprising solos, band/orchestra excerpts from the standard audition repertoire, or etudes. Accompaniment is not required.
• All Major and Minor scales, two octaves, from memory.
• Sight reading will be required.

Viola Applicants
Prepare two contrasting movements and present a 3-octave scale. You will not need to bring an accompanist.

Violin Applicants
Undergraduate Performance Major Audition Requirements

• An etude from Dont Op. 37, Fiorillo, or Kreutzer. A short solo piece demonstrating comparable technical and musical proficiency may be substituted for the etude.
• One movement from any of the solo Sonatas and Partitas by J. S. Bach.
• The first movement of the Mozart 3rd, 4th, or 5th Concerti with cadenza, or the first movement of another major concerto of equivalent or greater difficulty.
• A 3-octave major and minor scale and arpeggio set (key of the student's choice) from the Flesch Scale Studies.
• At least one work should be performed by memory.

• Two contrasting pieces of the student's choice. Selections should reflect your highest level of technical proficiency and refinement, and most sophisticated level of musicianship.
• A 3-octave major and minor scale and arpeggio of the applicant's choice.
• Memorization is optional, but preferred for concerti and solo Bach.

Voice Applicants
Prepare two selections of your choice in contrasting styles, one of which should be in a language other than English.  In addition, there will be a short sightreading exercise to sing.  You will not need to bring an accompanist.  An expert accompanist will be provided by the TTU School of Music.  The music does not need to be submitted prior to the audition.  No taped accompaniments are allowed.

Woodwind and Brass Applicants
Choose music that demonstrates both technical and musical proficiencies. You will not need to bring an accompanist.